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AP Language and Composition Devices Flashcards

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9965053460AllegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
9965053461AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in two or more neighboring words1
9965053462AllusionA direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical.2
9965053463AmbiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.3
9965053464AnadiplosisThe repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. "Men in great place are thrice servants: servants of the sovereign or state; servants of fame; and servants of business." ~ Francis Bacon4
9965053465AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.5
9965053466AnaphoraOne of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. "Careful the things you say, children will listen. Careful the things you do, children will see, and learn" ~ Into the Woods6
9965053467Anecdotea short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.7
9965053468antanaclasisRepetition of a word in two different senses. If we do not hang together, we will hang separately.8
9965053469AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.9
9965053470antecedent-consequence relationshipThe relationship expressed by "if...then" reasoning10
9965053471antimetaboleThe repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order. One should eat to live, not live to eat.11
9965053472antithesisThe juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases.12
9965053473aposropheThe direct address of an absent person or personified object as if he/she/it is able to reply. "O' Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" ~ William Shakespeare13
9965053474appositiveA noun or noun phrase that follows another noun immediately or defines or amplifies its meaning. The sky, gray and gloomy as usual, carried the faint scent of dusty rain in its breeze.14
9965053475Aristotelian triangleA diagram showing the relations of writer or speaker, audience (reader or listener), and text in a rhetorical situation.15
9965053476canonOne of the traditional elements of rhetorical composition -- invention, arrangement, style, memory, or delivery.16
9965053477chiasmusInvolves the repetition of similar concepts within a repeated and inverted grammatical structure, but not necessarily the repetition of the same words. *Similar to antimetabole, but for this device, only grammatical structure need be reversed, not necessarily the words. "So the last will be first, and the first last" Matthew 20:16 *(also an antimetabole) "Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live." ~ Socrates *(not an antimetabole)17
9965053478deductive reasoningReasoning that begins with a general principle and concludes with a specific instance that demonstrates the general principle. Gravity makes things fall. The apple that hit my head was due to gravity.18
9965053479denotationThe direct or dictionary meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or associated meanings.19
9965053480diction(1) The choice and use of words in speech or writing. (2) A way of speaking usually assessed in terms of prevailing standards of pronunciation and elocution.20
9965053481didacticIntended or inclined to teach or instruct, often excessively.21
9965053482dramatic narrationA narrative in which the reader or viewer does not have access to the unspoken thoughts of any character.22
9965053483dynamic characterOne who changes during the course of the narrative.23
9965053484encomiumA tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, objects, ideas, or events.24
9965053485epiphoraThe repetition of a word or phrase at the end of several clauses.25
9965053486euphemismAn indirect expression of unpleasant information in such way as to lesson its impact. casualties = deaths from a war26
9965053487inductive reasoningA method of reasoning by which a rhetor collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances.27
9965053488invectiveDenunciatory or abusive language; discourse that casts blame on somebody or something.28
9965053489ironyThe use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning. A statement or situation where the meaning is directly contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea.29
9965053490isocolonA succession of phrases of approximately equal length and corresponding structure. I came, I saw, I conquered. ~ Julius Caesar30
9965053491litoteA figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. The food wasn't awful.31
9965053492loose sentenceA sentence structure in which a main clause is followed by subordinate phrases and clauses. I knew I had found a friend in the woman, who herself was a lonely soul, never having known the love of man or child. ~Emma Goldman32
9965053493metonymyAn entity referred to by one of its attributes or associations. "The press" for the news media.33
9965053494onomatopoeiaA literary device in which the sound of a word is related to its meaning34
9965053495paralipsisIrony in which one proposes to pass over a matter, but subtly reveals it. "She is talented, not to mention rich."35
9965053496parallelismA set of similarly structured words, phrases, or clauses that appears in a sentence or paragraph.36
9965053497synecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole or the whole for a part. The word "wheels" refers to a vehicle.37
9965053498syntaxThe order of words in a sentence.38
9965053499tautologyA group of words that merely repeats the meaning already conveyed. If you don't get any better, then you'll never improve.39
9965053500tropeAn artful variation from expected modes of expression of thoughts and ideas.40
9965053501unreliable narratorAn untrustworthy or naïve commentator on events and characters in a story.41
9965053502verisimilitudeThe quality of a text that reflects the truth of actual experience.42
9965053503zeugmaA trope in which one word, usually a noun or the main verb, governs two other words not related in meaning. He governs his will and his kingdom.43

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